Shield



Aug. 4, 1942. E; c. ELDMAN 2,292,144

SHIELD Filed Aug. 21, 1940 INVENTOR .frfawn/e0 C MEAD/w? BY ova/Z 4,

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIELD Edward C. Meldman, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application August 21, 1940, Serial No. 353,452

2 Claims.

This invention relates to shields, and more particularly to an improved shield and a process or processes of making the same.

The shield is built up on a cast of the foot and the deformed or protruberant portion thereof. In devices of the type now in use, a rubber coating is applied to the cast, and pads are placed adjacent to the bunion in such a manner that the pressure of a shoe Worn by the user is shifted from the bunion to said pads. As the rubber dries, the pads have a tendensy to be drawn by the shrinking of said rubber in close proximity to the bunion, and sometimes will overlap portions of the high point thereof, and thus defeat the purpose of the shield. The rubber shield, unreinforced, also has a tendency to stretch and cause a misapplication of the pads.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shield having reinforcements of fabric or the like, which are applied during the construction of said shield, and by reason of their particular novel formation will conform to irregularities in contour, and when combined with the rubber foundation will yield an entirely new unitary structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield having a toe-embracing portion which will securely anchor the shield against displacement thereof during wear.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a top View in elevation of a shield embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a shield in place on the foot of a wearer.

Fig. 3 is a top view of a positive cast.

Fig. 4 is a view of the cast covered with the reinforcing strips.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the build-up elements in place.

Fig. 6 is a medial sectional view of the shield.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the arcuately or kidney shaped reinforcing strips.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the serpentine or reversely arced reinforcing strips.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 refers to the device generally, having the toe cap II, and the thickened or equalizing areas [2 and 13.

In Fig. 2 it may be seen that the edge of the toe cap II is brought posteriorly of the joint of the large toe M, to prevent discomfort and irritation to the wearer.

In forming the shield, a negative impression is first taken of the area to be treated, together with a point of anchor. A positive cast is made therefrom, and holding means as of wire, is attached. The cast is then dipped into a liquid compound which upon drying forms a rubber robe therefor. One or more additional coats are applied if needed.

The cloth reinforcements I5 or IE, cut on the bias for strength, are then applied. Due to the particular shape of these reinforcements, they can be easily adapted to differences in contour on the rubber foundation. In the form of the invention shown, the kidney and S-shaped forms of reinforcement maybe employed.

The reinforcements l5 and I6 may be impregnated with a stabilizing fluid which upon drying will bind or unite the fabric or cloth with the rubber.

A contour formation in two parts I! and I8, as shown in Fig. 5 is affixed to the foundation as above, adhesively, as by rubber cement, stabilizer, latex or other adhesive medium, and the built up formation entirely surrounds the prominence in the cast. The outer contour of the composite device must be evenly arced to fill out concavities in relation to the adjacent prominences. The contour formation element may be built of sponge rubber, plastic rubber, a plastic composition, felt, leather or other suitable similar material. The inner surface of the shield conforms to the exact surface of the positive cast. The build-up is coated with rubber paste and the finished shield is dipped into latex compound 19 a sufficient number of times to establish the desired thickness. Each coat must be allowed to dry.

The contour formation may comprise one or more pieces of sponge rubber or other material as required by the individual contour of the cast.

The device as pictured in the drawing can readily be applied to the large toe. Devices of similar construction can be applied to any of the other toes.

It will be understood that the device is capable of many modifications in structure and design, without departing from the spirit of the invention, within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a shield formed of an inner coat or coats of latex, a plurality of curvated fabric elements overlappingly disposed completely thereover, a coat of latex binding the same to said inner coat, a contour-forming element or elements adhesively secured to the foregoing, and a coating of latex over the whole.

2. As an article of manufacture, a shield formed of a base coat or coats of latex, a plurality of thin irregularly shaped fabric strips overlappingly disposed in various directions completely thereover, a coat of latex binding the same to said inner coat, a contour forming element or elements adhesively secured to the foregoing, and a coating of latex over the whole, the said strips being small with respect to the finished pad.

EDWARD C. MELDMAN. 

